In a match-up of last season's Super 12 finalists, Canterbury's Crusaders held off a spirited Waratahs second-half challenge to win their final pre-season warm-up match, 32-30, at Aussie Stadium last night.
At halftime the Crusaders were in total control, as they looked every inch the championside in running up 27 points in the first 40 minutes to a solitary Waratahs penalty goal.
The Crusaders were superior at the breakdown, while free-running forwards Mose Tuiali'i and Ross Filipo chimed in with the backs to cause problems for a confused Waratahs defensive line-up.
The Crusaders scored some exhilarating long-range tries but, if the Waratahs were dispirited heading into halftime, they came out fired up in the second half.
As the Crusaders rested inside backs Kevin Senio and Daniel Carter early in the second half, the Waratahs began to make an impact.
Second five-eighth Shaun Berne took advantage of some slack defence to score and Rocky Elsom charged over soon after following a run by replacement loose forward Wycliff Palu.
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans continued to ring the changes, with 12 replacements made in the half and much of the refinement disappeared from their game.
But a try off the back of the scrum to man of the match Tuiali'i gave them some breathing space, before the Waratahs came back at them to close the deficit to two points.
Fullback Peter Hewat missed a long-range penalty that would have put them in front with six minutes remaining, shortly after Crusaders replacement forward Wyatt Crockett was yellow-carded and the Crusaders were able to stave the Waratahs off comfortably enough in the last few minutes.
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw was presented with the Rotomahana Challenge trophy before a crowd of 17,000 after the match and the team showed enough when at full strength in the first half to indicate they will be a major force when the new Super 14 competition kicks off this week.
Waratahs 30 (Sean Berne, Rocky Elsom, Wycliff Palu tries; Peter Hewat 3 cons, 3 pens). Crusaders 32 (Mose Tuali'i 2, Ross Filipo, Aaron Mauger, Leon MacDonald tries; Dan Carter 2 cons, pen).
